DANVERS – More than 500 guests packed the Danversport function venue Thursday night for the Boys & Girls Club of Lynn’s seventh annual gala, which honored four individuals and one business, while raising critical funds to support programming at the club.
Tim Demakes and Adriana Moschella were inducted into the Boys & Girls Club Hall of Fame, while Dr. Rardy Pena and Jonas Sison were presented the Commitment to Youth Award. Commonwealth Payroll & HR received the Helping Hands Business of the Year Award.
Jim Clark, president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, was the keynote speaker, while former New England Patriots Ty Law and Jermaine Wiggins served as guest emcees and helped make the live auction an overwhelming success. Club members added to the celebration with a dance routine and rousing welcome for Clark, who said it was the best introduction he has ever received.
“We are sincerely grateful for all who provided financial support for this event,” said Brian Therrien, Boys & Girls Club of Lynn executive director. “Thanks to our donor base, foundations and those who attended, we exceeded our goal. The funds raised at the gala help us bridge the gap between the cost of running our programs and what we charge families for dues, while maintaining a level of excellence.”
Demakes, vice president at Old Neighborhood Foods, has been instrumental in the club’s fundraising efforts. He and his family, led by his father, Tom, are prolific philanthropists in the city and identified the Boys & Girls Club as deserving of support.
“Our family has always been big on giving back to the City of Lynn, and the Boys & Girls Club is a great way to do it,” Demakes said. “A lot of the kids’ parents work for us and we see the impact the club has. We’re just getting started.”
Moschella, senior vice president at Eastern Bank, serves on multiple committees, including finance and fundraising, and has provided valuable assistance to the club in balancing its budget.
“I feel strongly about the mission and the impact the club has on the future leaders of our community,” said Moschella, a 2009 St. Mary’s High School graduate. “I’m truly humbled to be honored at this event that showcases the work the club does. We want to raise awareness of the mission and get as many people as we can here to show the work that we do.”
Pena, the principal at Lynn English High School, said the award is especially meaningful “because of what the Boys & Girls Club represents – opportunity, growth and the belief that every young person has the potential to shape their future.”
Sison is a business owner who provides financial support to the club throughout the year, including sending kids to summer camp. “This recognition means a lot, but the real credit goes to Brian and his team,” he said. “Their unwavering dedication to our youth creates the perfect environment for all of us to step in and support.”
Commonwealth Payroll & HR does volunteer work with the Boys & Girls Club, as well as sponsoring a summer cookout and Thanksgiving meals. “Partnering with the Boys & Girls Club has reinforced the importance of our mission,” the company said. “We’re excited to continue working together to support the club and the families who rely on its vital programs and its mission.”
Funds raised at the gala support the Kids Club child care program for children ages 5-10, which is currently full, the after-school drop-in center for ages 8-12 and the teen center for ages 13-18.
“We offer a wide range of activities, from sports to life skills to the arts,” Therrien said. “The revenue derived from the gala is critical to providing that programming.”
